State officials are still trying to get a grip on the death toll. The fast-forming storm didn’t leave a very big window for evacuations and many people stayed behind, trying to ride out the hurricane.

Michael was downgraded to a tropical storm early Thursday as it swept through central Georgia and was still packing 50 mph winds late Thursday as it barreled through North Carolina.

Live updates:

Hurricane Michael path of destruction

Update 8:00 p.m. EDT Oct. 11: As Hurricane Michael continued its march through the Carolinas and Virginia Thursday, it left a path of destruction in it’s wake stretching from the Gulf Coast to Virginia.

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS in Farmville, VA. Numerous homes, businesses, and roads are flooded. Please do not venture out this evening! A Flash Flood EMERGENCY remains in effect. #vawxhttps://t.co/GN1APzM62i

Nearly 145,000 Virginians are without power as of 7:11 p.m. Heavy rains will continue tonight and additional power outages are possible. Be sure you have flashlights on hand and charge your mobile phones and other devices now if you still have power.

The devastation stretches for miles, with lone structures dotting the landscape where entire neighborhoods once stood.

Thousands of volunteers, rescue crews and first responders spent Thursday trying to assess the storm damage and search for survivors.

Utility crews are on standby to help restore power to thousands of customers, but they can’t get through yet because roads are still impassable in many areas.

6 dead in aftermath of Hurricane Michael

Update 5:20 p.m. EDT Oct. 11: The death toll from Hurricane Michael in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina has increased to six so far, according to The Washington Post.

In Florida, the Gadsen County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed four storm-related deaths, but other than confirming a man’s death Wednesday from a falling tree, officials have not released any information yet on the other victims.

An 11-year-old girl was killed in Georgia by a piece of metal that was whipped into her home when Michael barreled through.

A 38-year-old man was killed in Iredell County, North Carolina when a tree fell on his car, the Post reported.

Update 3:03 p.m. EDT Oct. 11: The death toll from Hurricane Michael is rising as first responders and survivors comb through the rubble along the Florida Panhandle. So far the total number killed is three, according to The Associated Press.

A man in Gadsden County, Florida, died Wednesday when a tree fell on his home. Another man reportedly died from a heart attack and an 11-year-old girl in Georgia was killed when a carport that was ripped away by the storm crashed into her home.

﻿Update 1:28 p.m. EDT Oct. 11: One survivor of the hurricane that battered the panhandle said that his city “looks like an atomic bomb had hit our city,” The Panama City News Herald reported.

Some areas are not allowing residents who did evacuate to come back into their neighborhoods until crews can clean up power lines and trees that fell during the storm, the Associated Press reported.

Tyndall Air Force Base is closed as officials deal with “widespread catastrophic damage.” No one was injured, but nearly every home on the base has damage to roofs. About 600 families who live on the base were evacuated before the storm, the AP reported.

Power is starting to come back on in some areas with about 713,000 homes and businesses across five states still without power, according to CBS News.

In North Carolina, crews have had to conduct water rescues after neighborhoods were swamped by flash flooding, the AP reported.

In Georgia, the Seminole County coroner has identified the 11-year-old girl who was killed by Hurricane Michael. The coroner says Sarah Radney died after a portable carport was picked up by the wind and dropped on her home’s roof. The leg of the carport broke through the roof and hit her in the head. The coroner believes she died of massive blunt force trauma, WSB and the AP reported. Originally Seminole County EMA Director Travis Brooks said it was a tree.

State of Emergency in Georgia

Update 9:25 a.m. EDT Oct. 11: President Donald Trump has declared a state of emergency in Georgia.The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that his declaration will allow the state access to federal resources to help local and state efforts to remove debris and recover from the storm.

Gov. Nathan Deal had already declared a state of emergency for most of the state and activated 1,500 National Guard troops.

Meanwhile more than 750,000 power outages have been reported in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama, The Washington Post reported.

Update 5 a.m. EDT Oct. 11: According to WSB-TV, an 11-year-old was killed when a tree fell onto a structure in south Georgia as Michael swept through the state, Seminole County EMA Director Travis Brooks said early Thursday.

#Michael continues to weaken over eastern Georgia, but tropical storm force winds and threat of flooding and tornadoes continue over Georgia and the Carolinas today. Here are the Key Messages from 5 am EDT October 11th advisory. Go to https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb for details. pic.twitter.com/A5pEUkYQbk

Update 12:38 a.m. EDT Oct. 11: Michael is no longer a hurricane and has been downgraded to a tropical storm, the National Hurricane Center said in its 12 a.m. EDT update. It is about 30 miles south-southwest of Macon, Georgia, with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph. Michael is moving northeast at 17 mph, the update said.

#Michael weakens to a tropical storm over south-central Georgia. Here is the 12 am EDT update on October 11th. This is the last hourly update. Next update will be the intermediate public advisory at 2 am EDT. pic.twitter.com/89wX6xYzrs

Update 11:55 p.m. EDT Oct. 10: Hurricane Michael is still a Category 1 storm, but barely. The hurricane’s wind speed has dropped to 75 mph, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center.

The storm is picking up speed, too, as it whips through Georgia, moving at 20 mph toward the northeast, the NHC said in its 11 pm report.

Hurricane Michael losing steam

Update 10:15 p.m. EDT Oct. 10: Hurricane Michael is weakening as it moves through Georgia on track for the Carolinas.

The storms wind speeds have dropped to 80 mph as it moves in a northeasterly direction at 17 mph, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center.

The NHC is predicting a moderate risk of flash flooding as the storm moves through Georgia.

“Heavy rainfall from Michael could produce life-threatening flash flooding from the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend region into portions of southeast Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas and southeast Virginia,” according to the NHC’s latest update.

Tropical storm warnings are posted along the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas.

The storm is expected to reach southern North Carolina sometime Thursday.

For some of you, the storm has passed. What’s Next?☑️Don’t venture out. Water & power lines don’t go well together; especially in the dark☑️Let first responders do their work. Stay sheltered & off the roads☑️Text rather than call family & friends to let them know you are safe

State authorities said it could take up to a week to get power restored in some areas, although Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Wednesday that repairing the grid is a top priority once first responders can get into communities damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Michael

Update 7:00 p.m. EDT Oct. 10: The outer bands of Hurricane Michael are already being felt in Atlanta as the storm’s center moves through the southwestern part of the state.

Tornado warnings are posted in Atlanta.

WSB-TV Meteorologist Glenn Burns said that radar showed a large area of debris lofted over 11 thousand feet into the air in Crawford County, Georgia earlier, indicating that a strong tornado possibly touched down there.

NEW VIDEO: Showing additional damage here in Crawford Country. Home owner tells me that he and his wife took cover under the couch after hearing tornado sirens sound off. @WGXAnewspic.twitter.com/4lJsPscLkF

Update 5:50 p.m. EDT Oct. 10: The National Guard is on standby in Florida, Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina and is prepared to deploy where needed to help with emergency responses after Hurricane Michael passes through.

Update 5:45 p.m. EDT Oct. 10: Hurricane Michael has caused major damage in parts of Florida’s Panhandle and Big Bend region and the storm is still moving through the state as a powerful Category 3 hurricane.

Scott is also warning people in the Panhandle and other areas to stay off the roads and to shelter in place as the storm continues moving through the state.

We are still in the midst of a Category 4 catastrophic and historic storm. I urge all Floridians in the Panhandle to continue sheltering in place, and listening to local authorities. Stay inside until directed further so that our recovery teams can move in as quickly as possible.

Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency said in a press conference that people who did not evacuate need to make sure they’re in a strong structure and that they get to the highest point.

Update: 4:35 p.m. EDT Oct. 10: The extent of the damage from Hurricane Michael in Florida’s Panhandle is still largely unknown, but there are reports that the powerful storm has caused major damage in some areas. Damage assessment is underway in some areas and more information is expected by Wednesday evening.

2:08 p.m. EDT Oct. 10: Michael had the third lowest pressure of a landfalling hurricane in the United States when it crossed the coast at Mexico Beach, Florida. The “Labor Day Hurricane” of 1935 and Hurricane Camille in 1969 were the only storms with a lower measured pressure at landfall.

1:10 p.m. EDT Oct. 10: There are reports of 116 mph gusts as the eyewall of Michael comes ashore. Landfall is not official until the center of the eye (where the lowest pressure is) crosses the coastline. It appears that will take place around Mexico Beach, Florida.

1:06 p.m. EDT Oct. 10: The storm is beginning to come ashore.

Here is the 12 PM CDT position update for #Michael: Eyewall of Michael coming ashore along the coast of the Florida Panhandle between St. Vincent Island and Panama City. Do not venture out into the eye when it passes! pic.twitter.com/KsePFlnTIt

Bridges are closing across NW Florida including Hathaway (Bay Co.), St. George Island Bridge (Franklin Co.) with many more to come. Expect bridges in your area to be closed. Road conditions are deteriorating due to debris and flooding. Take shelter now.

12:31 p.m. EDT Oct. 10: Apalachicola Police Chief Bobby Varnes tells CNN that water is rising in his city. The surge is about 6 feet now, at low tide. The city is expecting up to 13 feet of storm surge. U.S. Highway 98 has been closed in Apalachicola.

10:50 a.m. EDT Oct. 10: The NHC has issued a 10 a.m. CDT update on Hurricane Michael. The storm remains at 145 mph and is now moving north-northeast. Michael’s speed has increased to 14 mph and at 10 a.m. CDT, it is located 60 miles from Panama City, Florida.

Michael is upon us, it is time to seek refuge. Once you are sheltered, STAY PUT. Do not try to leave until the storm has passed. Multiple state and federal resources are staged and ready to respond as soon as it is safe.

10:10 a.m. EDT Oct. 10: According to the NHC, Michael is maintaining a fast forward motion of 13 mph. Ian Sears, flight director on a NOAA “Hurricane Hunter” airplane, says the pressure in Michael continues to drop. That means the storm is getting stronger as it moves towards the Florida Panhandle.

Water is rising

10 a.m. EDT Oct. 10: Water levels are continuing to rise quickly along the coast of the Florida Panhandle, the National Hurricane Center says. A National Ocean Service water level station at Apalachicola has reported more than 4 feet of inundation above ground level there.

9:15 a.m. EDT Oct. 10: The National Weather Service in Panama City, Florida, warns that Hurricane Michael’s landfall will bring “catastrophic damage” to the Florida Panhandle.

“This is an unprecedented event as there are no Category 4 storms on record to have made landfall along the Florida Panhandle coast,” the NWS statement said.

No emergency services help now

9:05 a.m. EDT Oct 10: The Bay County Emergency Management Agency tweets that fire and emergency medical services are “now unable to respond to calls” because of deteriorating weather conditions. Panama City is located in Bay County.

The time for evacuating along the coast has come and gone. First responders will not be able to come out in the middle of the storm. If you chose to stay in an evacuation zone, you must SEEK REFUGE IMMEDIATELY.

8:40 a.m. EDT Oct. 10: If Hurricane Michael maintains its current strength when it makes landfall along Florida’s Panhandle, it will be one of the strongest storms to ever hit the state. No Category 4 or Category 5 storm has hit the Panhandle since the National Weather Service has been tracking hurricanes.

The latest updated from the National Hurricane Center

7:45 a.m. EDT Oct. 10: Hurricane Michael has sustained winds of 145 mph and is continuing to move north in the Gulf of Mexico. At 7 a.m. CDT, Michael was located 95 miles southwest of Panama City, Florida. The storm is moving north at 13 mph.

6 a.m. EDT Oct. 10: Michael is 120 miles south-southwest of Panama City Beach and 115 miles southwest of Apalachicola, Florida, with winds of 140 mph. The storm is moving north at 13 mph. A landfall near Panama City is expected around 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Update 11:16 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: Royal Caribbean’s Empress of the Seas cruise ship apparently got caught in the outer bands of Hurricane Michael early Tuesday on its way to Cuba. One of the ship’s passengers posted video of the encounter on Twitter.

Update 10:10 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: Warnings for Hurricane Michael now extend from Alabama and Florida along the Gulf Coast to South Carolina, according to the National Weather Service.

Powerful winds and storm surge are a big concern as Michael tracks toward a landing early Wednesday in the Florida Panhandle.

Warnings for #HurricaneMichael now extend from the Gulf Coast in Alabama/Florida to South Carolina. Where will you ride out this storm? Vehicles, exterior rooms and top floors of homes are not safe from the wind when there are tall trees nearby.

The National Hurricane Center is predicting Michael could cause storm surge between nine and 13 feet.

The chart below shows just how dangerous just a couple feet of surge is.

If you live along the Florida coast between Pensacola and Tampa, THIS is why it's so important to listen to your local/state officials regarding evacuations. The storm surge is expected to reach 9-13 FEET in some areas!

It is still moving in a northerly direction at 12 mph and has the potential to increase to a Category 4 hurricane before making landfall somewhere in the Panhandle early Wednesday morning, NHC officials said.

Update 6:40 p.m EDT Oct. 9: The National Hurricane Center has continued to warn that Hurricane Michael could cause potentially life-threatening storm surge.

Some areas along the Gulf Coast could see up to 13 feet of storm surge.

The agency is predicting the worst surge will occur between Mexico Beach and Keaton.

A destructive and life-threatening storm surge event will occur along portions of the Florida Panhandle, Big Bend, and Nature Coast on Wednesday and Wed night. The worst storm surge is expected to be between Mexico Beach and Keaton Beach where 9-13' of inundation is possible. pic.twitter.com/Koao5p4GIk

With severe storm surge comes flooding. Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency are warning people in Florida and in parts of Georgia and the Carolinas to brace for potentially dangerous flooding as Hurricane Michael makes landfall and moves inland.

Flooding from Hurricane #Michael will affect several states. Finish preparations ASAP and get ready to shelter in a safe location.

Update 6:15 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: Hurricane Michael could make landfall in the Florida Panhandle as early as Wednesday morning anywhere from Destin, Florida, to Apalachee Bay as a Category 3 storm, according to the National Hurricane Center. The center is also projecting the storm will track northeast through Georgia and the already storm-weary Carolinas before blowing into the Atlantic late Thursday.

Unlike Hurricane Florence, Michael is moving much faster and forecasters expect the storm to moving quickly once it makes landfall.

Hurricane warnings are posted from the Alabama-Florida border to Florida’s Suwanee River. A hurricane watch is posted as far west as the Alabama-Mississippi border, the NHC reported.

If you need a safe place to go before Hurricane #Michael arrives, you can text SHELTER and your zip code (i.e. SHELTER 12345) to 4FEMA (43362) to locate an open emergency shelter near you. pic.twitter.com/L1oU4fyB1A

2:35 p.m. EDT Oct 9: Michael could develop into a potentially catastrophic event for the northeastern Gulf Coast," the Tallahassee National Weather Service office is warning in its area forecast discussion. Storm surges of more than 12 feet are not out of the question, the NWS says.

Airports closed

2:14 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: United Airlines has canceled flights scheduled for Tuesday evening through Wednesday afternoon to three airports in Florida -- Pensacola, Panama City and Destin.

12:35 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: Michael could be the strongest storm to hit the Florida Panhandle in 13 years. With winds just 1 mph below the threshold for a Category 3 storm, forecasters say it is a good likelihood the storm will be a Category 3 as it makes landfall.

Deal declares state of emergency

12:30 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed an executive order on Tuesday declaring a state of emergency and warning that Hurricane Michael could have “significant inland impacts” in Georgia after the storm makes landfall in the Florida Panhandle.

“The state is mobilizing all available resources to ensure public safety ahead of Hurricane Michael,” Deal said in a statement. “In light of the storm’s forecasted track, I encourage Georgians in the affected counties to be prepared and remain vigilant."

The latest on Michael

12:00 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: The National Hurricane Center says Michael is a Category 2 storm with winds at 110 mph. According to the 11 a.m. update, Michael is headed north and is about 360 miles south of Panama City, Florida. Michael is moving at 12 mph.